Special Needs Parenting: 10 things I wish everyone knew

Special needs parenting is messy. You can have it all together one moment, be on top of all the appointments, changes in medication, activity schedule, insurance issues and then… BAM! You discover you’re not on top of any of it. As a special needs mom, I’m baffled by this reality. I can’t imagine what people around me must think. As I was pondering this situation tonight I thought, “I wish everyone knew…”

Then it dawned on me. I can share right here on the blog. If you share your list in the comments pretty soon we’ll have a great list of things we wish others knew about being a special needs parent!

Are you a special needs mom?

What would you want everyone to know?

Here’s my list.

Special Needs Parenting: 10 things I wish everyone knew

Just because I’m busy doesn’t mean I’m stressed.

My family and friends deserve a lot of credit (aka chocolate) for being able to love me. I don’t ever take it for granted.

I have gone 987 nights without sleep. If my child can sleep through the night, the beeping machines don’t.

I can laugh at myself. I can cry by myself. I’ve learned a healthy dose of both is best.

I know more about putting in a g-tube than most emergency room doctors do.

Without fail, Airport Security will test my child (because he has a g-tube) for bomb residue. (And if we’re “lucky” they’ll even broadcast it on the intercom to cause a panic).

I’m not a superhero.

The world gets a better version of me because of what God’s taught me as a special needs mom.

I am thankful, really thankful!

I would do it all over again.

There’s so much more I could add to this list. The reality is that special needs parenting isn’t ever the same. Some days we got this and other days not so much. What you need to know about me today may change in some fashion tomorrow. Life changes fast in a special needs home, and other times it seems like the days drag on way too slow.

Let’s have some fun and put our lists together.

Make sure you leave a comment with your list of what you wish everyone knew below.

Until our next chat,

Mrs. Joseph Wood

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When I say “no” to my child, I’m not being mean. She learns differently than your children and needs different boundaries.

Please don’t offer my child food/candy/soda THEN tell them to ask me for permission. That makes me the “bad guy”. Talk to me before asking her.

My daughter is not usually verbal with people she’ unfamiliar with. Let her hang out on the edge of your group and observe. She’s having fun, even though she’s not interacting. She will, when she’s ready. Invite her to participate more, but respect it if she declines.

These are insights others just wouldn’t have unless they were walking in our shoes. If I think about it, I didn’t “get it” until I put the “special needs parenting shoes” on and started walking this path myself. <3

As a special needs Mom, I have most appreciated those friends or even strangers who choose to tell me why they love my child instead of sympathizing with “how hard my life is.” I know people are trying to be supportive in both cases, but sometimes the latter case encourages me to have s pity party rather than to love the child that I have been blessed with.

Great insight! I agree with you. The more positive conversations I have with others, the more I want to step out the front door to spend time with others! There are times I choose to not do something because of how emotionally draining it will be.